By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSPublished May 16, 2012 - 4:10am Last Updated May 16, 2012 - 7:58am

Average: 4.2(29 votes)

Adam Lambert, Trespassing

On his debut album three years ago, Adam Lambert was fresh off a runner-up American Idol finish and eager to show off his amazing vocal range. The result was an all-things-to-everyone album ranging from classic rock crunch to hip-hop heat, with an over-the-top ballad or two thrown in.

On Trespassing, his second studio album, Lambert narrows the focus to profitable dance pop (though the hyper-emotional ballads still force their way in). The result is a more consistent but less-gratifying sophomore offering.

It kicks off with a roar on the title track, employing a drill team stomp-and-clap intro backing up chanting lyrics, propelled by a booming bass line and drum beat reminiscent of Queen’s Another One Bites The Dust.

Cuckoo leans heavily on synthesizer and a pounding beat and seems destined to become a dance club favourite along with Kickin’ In, a Prince soundalike.

Willie Nelson, Heroes

Willie Nelson returns to the Sony label family, home to his greatest commercial triumphs, including Red Headed Stranger and Stardust. As prolific as anyone of his time, Nelson recordings fly with a frequency that speaks of his musical spontaneity and his willingness to record with whomever he desires. Therefore, his albums sometime get lost from sheer volume — and a lack of focus and consistency.

Sony Legacy respectfully positions Heroes as more artfully considered, but other than a remarkable take on Coldplay’s The Scientist, there’s little that separates the album from Nelson’s avalanche of releases. There’s the all-over-the-map covers, from Pearl Jam to Bob Wills. There’s also the bevy of collaborators, from familiar partners like Ray Price to newer buddies like Snoop Dogg.

The most frequent duet partner is his son Lukas Nelson. It’s admirable for a father to want to boost his son’s fledgling career, but it does the music no favour.

Occupy This Album

Occupy This Album, this homage to the Occupy Wall Street movement, is thick with troubadours and an eye to social justice. The four-disc compilation is one part who’s-who and one-part who’s-that.

Richard Barone’s Can I Sleep On Your Futon? bemoans “Six years of school and an advanced degree / And still no job is calling me / Just student loans and delinquent fees.”

Loudon Wainwright III hits the sweet spot with The Panic Is On, a track bristling with brilliant guitar and a heartfelt message that things are heading to a boiling point in the U.S. On Play The Greed, Dar Williams asks the listener to ask the right questions of those in power. “Ask why there’s only 40 songs on the station/ Ask your cafe about the coffee’s plantation,” she sings.